Jermell Charlo would not square up with stablemate Errol Spence Jr.
On July 17, WBA Super, IBF and WBC World super welterweight champion Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (34-1, 18 KO’s) is shooting for greatness. He is doing so by challenging WBO 154-pounds champion Brian “El Boxi” Castano (17-0-1, 12 KO’s) to determine the undisputed champion of the division. While it would be foolhardy to dismissively write Castano off as dead meat, Charlo will enter the dustup as the overwhelming favorite.
Yet, that was the case when his brother, WBC World middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo, locked horns with Juan Montiel. Instead of casually smoking him like Snoop’s prized Cali green leaf, the Hit Man found himself in a serious firefight. Sure, he did clearly outclass Montiel and won wide on the cards. This does not negate the fact that he was in a hard scrap, had to dig deep and suffered his first professional cut. So again, it would not be the wisest decision to capriciously snub Castano’s chances.
LOYALTY OVER LEGACY
Provided that the bookies are correct, and Iron Man does prevail, his next move could be very interesting. He’s already let it be known he’d move up to middleweight for the right fight. At the same time, he is still looking for all the smoke at 154. Even with all his willingness to face the best of the best, there are two fights that he’s sworn never to take. The first, and most obvious, would be his 160-pound champion brother. No matter what future noise he may make in the division, Iron Man would never entertain going to war with his blood and literal mirror image.
Another realistic fantasy fight would pit Jermell Charlo against IBF and WBC World welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KO’s). Like Charlo, Spence is sizable for his division and has suggested taking fights at higher weight classes. The most notable of these would-be bouts is his proposed showdown with unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Yet, as the Iron Man explained to Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast, there is zero chance of a Charlo versus Spence marquee ever being seen.
“I would never, I can’t fight my stablemate! I’ve done it before though, I’ve fought a stablemate but we a way lot closer. I’m not interested in wanting to fight [him], we have the same coach! How is he going to work two corners? You know me and my coach going all the way to the head with it. Naw, I’d move up or we’d domain this mug together! I ain’t selfish on the belts, I’m on the way to win them all right now and then what, vacate and then my boy got to want to win them . . . I wouldn’t want to fight him.”
By: Bakari Simpson
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